Traffic faced major disruption on Friday morning after a serious oil spill forced the closure of a key stretch of the M25 in Kent. A broken-down HGV released around 250 litres of fuel across all three lanes between Sevenoaks and Bromley, triggering emergency resurfacing work.
The incident led to an immediate shutdown of the anti-clockwise carriageway as safety crews assessed the damage. National Highways confirmed that the affected section will remain closed until at least the afternoon. The closure has created long delays during peak holiday-return traffic, with congestion spreading to surrounding routes.
M25 Traffic Closure
The M25 is currently closed anti-clockwise between Junction 5 (Sevenoaks) and Junction 4 (Bromley). The closure was implemented after an HGV breakdown caused significant fuel spillage across all lanes of the motorway.
Although recovery teams have already removed the vehicle, engineers confirmed that resurfacing is required due to contamination of the road surface. The closure ensures safety while repair work continues. Authorities have not yet provided a confirmed reopening time.
M25 Traffic: Oil Spill Causes Major Travel Disruption in Kent
The disruption began when a broken-down HGV spilled approximately 250 litres of fuel across the carriageway. The fuel spread across all three lanes, making the surface unsafe for traffic.
Emergency services quickly attended the scene and cleared the vehicle, but the damage to the road surface was extensive. National Highways confirmed that resurfacing is required before the motorway can reopen safely. The incident has caused widespread disruption across Kent and nearby parts of Surrey.
M25 Traffic: Diversion Routes
While most navigation apps tend to update after incidents, here is the exact diversion route from National Highways:
- Follow the hollow square diversion symbol
- Exit the M25 at Junction 5 and join the A21 towards Sevenoaks.
- On the A21 take the 1st exit onto the A25 towards Riverhead
- At the roundabout at Riverhead take the 1st exit to remain on the A25.
- At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the A224 towards Bromley.
- Continue on the A224 across the M26 and M25 and at the Morants Court Cross roundabout take the 3rd exit and stay on the A224 towards Bromley.
- Follow the A224 to the Hewitts roundabout and take the 5th exit to to join the M25 link to J4.
- At the J4 roundabout take the 1st exit to rejoin the M25.
M25 Traffic: Current Situation
The affected section of the M25 remains fully closed while resurfacing work continues. Engineers are currently working across all three lanes to restore safe driving conditions.
Traffic is building heavily on surrounding roads, particularly towards Junction 6 and along the A21 corridor. National Highways has described the repair as a “protracted job,” warning that delays may continue through the afternoon as work progresses.
M25 Traffic: Traffic Impact & Delays
The closure has caused significant delays across Kent and parts of Surrey. Long queues have formed back towards Junction 6 and along key sections of the A21.
Drivers are experiencing delays ranging from 15 to 30 minutes, with conditions expected to worsen during peak travel periods. Holiday-return traffic has added further pressure on both the diversion route and surrounding local roads.
M25 Traffic: When Will It Reopen?
National Highways has confirmed that the M25 will remain closed until at least the afternoon. The reopening depends entirely on the completion of resurfacing work and final safety checks.
No exact reopening time has been announced. Officials have warned that if repairs take longer than expected, disruption could extend into the evening.
M25 Traffic: Official Warnings & Wider Disruption
National Highways has urged drivers to plan and allow extra time for their journeys. A spokesperson said: “This is likely to be a protracted job and the closure is to remain in place until at least this afternoon.”
The agency warned that significant delays are expected throughout the day due to high traffic volumes. An earlier fuel spill incident on the A20 near Dover has also added pressure on Kent’s road network, compounding disruption for motorists across the region.
